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Honduras Congress rejects Zelaya Honduras Congress rejects Zelaya
(about 1 hour later)
Congress in Honduras has voted overwhelmingly against allowing ousted President Manuel Zelaya to serve out the last two months of his term.Congress in Honduras has voted overwhelmingly against allowing ousted President Manuel Zelaya to serve out the last two months of his term.
Of the 125 members of Congress present, 111 voted against his reinstatement.Of the 125 members of Congress present, 111 voted against his reinstatement.
Mr Zelaya, who was removed from office in June, told the BBC the decision "ratifies the coup" and meant Hondurans were "living in illegality".Mr Zelaya, who was removed from office in June, told the BBC the decision "ratifies the coup" and meant Hondurans were "living in illegality".
The former leader has also condemned Sunday's presidential elections, won by Conservative politician Porfirio Lobo.The former leader has also condemned Sunday's presidential elections, won by Conservative politician Porfirio Lobo.
As well as Brazil, several other nations, including Argentina and Venezuela, have refused to recognise the vote, arguing it was held under an illegitimate government.
The US cautiously welcomed the polls, and Peru, Panama, Colombia and Costa Rica also voiced their support.
'Honduran reality'
After Congress voted not to reinstate him until his term ends in January, Mr Zelaya said: "This decision ratifies a coup and condemns Honduras to continue living in illegality."After Congress voted not to reinstate him until his term ends in January, Mr Zelaya said: "This decision ratifies a coup and condemns Honduras to continue living in illegality."
On Monday, he had said the election of Mr Lobo as the next president had served only to intensify the political crisis. As lawmakers debated, security forces kept back dozens of Zelaya supporters who were protesting outside the building.
Speaking to BBC Mundo from inside the Brazilian embassy where he took refuge in September, he said: "Will the elections change the military leadership that conducted the coup that ousted me? It remains the same." "We'll continue the fight because it is not only for the reinstatement of Mel Zelaya but also for the restoration of democracy," one demonstrator, Irma Flores, told BBC Mundo.
'No solution'
Several Latin American nations, including regional power Brazil, refused to recognise Sunday's elections and insisted they would not restore diplomatic ties unless Mr Zelaya was reinstated.
However, the US, which is Honduras's most important trading partner, said the poll was an important first step towards ending the crisis.
Mr Zelaya has been inside the Brazilian embassy in the capitial, Tegucigalpa, since secretly returning from exile in September.
"I'll stay in the Brazilian embassy fighting for this dictatorship to be condemned, and now against the electoral fraud committed on Sunday. The elections are no solution for the country," Mr Zelaya said.
Mr Lobo, who lost to Mr Zelaya in the 2005 election, has pledged to form a unity government and seek dialogue. He is due to take office on 27 January.Mr Lobo, who lost to Mr Zelaya in the 2005 election, has pledged to form a unity government and seek dialogue. He is due to take office on 27 January.
Mr Lobo also urged the international community to "understand the Honduran reality and stop punishing the country".Mr Lobo also urged the international community to "understand the Honduran reality and stop punishing the country".
The interim president, Roberto Micheletti, was meanwhile set to return to office after absenting himself from the post while elections were held.
Mr Zelaya was forced into exile on 28 June after trying to hold a vote on whether a constituent assembly should be set up to look at rewriting the constitution.Mr Zelaya was forced into exile on 28 June after trying to hold a vote on whether a constituent assembly should be set up to look at rewriting the constitution.
His critics said the vote, which was ruled illegal by the Supreme Court, aimed to remove the current one-term limit on serving as president and pave the way for his possible re-election.His critics said the vote, which was ruled illegal by the Supreme Court, aimed to remove the current one-term limit on serving as president and pave the way for his possible re-election.
Mr Zelaya has repeatedly denied this and pointed out that it would have been impossible to change the constitution before his term in office was up.Mr Zelaya has repeatedly denied this and pointed out that it would have been impossible to change the constitution before his term in office was up.